Metro got me two blocks away from piao jie. Since no bus stop or metro station is located inside Chinatown, I have to finish the rest of the road on foot.

Piao jie is a strange place, imagine overdosing an 8 years old kid with growth hormone, and now imagine that kid as a district.

Tall multi-story buildings and apartments that look like a prison from the outside are all you can see when you look up at the sky in this place. Rusty pipes, old air conditioners, windows with iron railings, peeling white paint, and escape ladders, decorated the neighborhood and residents' home.

When the population grows so fast that you can't even bother with quality because quantity is way too much of a problem. Though the upper floors are concrete and iron sheets, the ground floor of these buildings are traditional-looking shops made out of wood, glass, and various posts and commercial signs, speaking of which. The number of billboards and signs in this place can put the neon lights of nach in shame, it is impossible to see what lies 100 meters away from you because signs with giant Chinese words written all over them block out all sights. Not to mention the lanterns hanging in the air next to somebody's laundry.

At the edge of piao jie people treat asphalt roads as pavement since cars aren't the most popular choice. Most people travel by bike or bicycles since the road is usually narrow and filled with people, only when you're leaving the district or you if live at the center of piao jie will the automobiles be of any use.

***

I always tried to avoid walking on the streets of Chinatown. From an outsider's perspective, they may think I look apart because I'm Asian. (The Russians had asked me to be their scout in piao jie many times)

But the truth is I look more obvious than a hooker in a monastery. People of Chinatown have known each other for decades, if any families in town have a newborn the whole town will know that within a week. That's why it's so hard for other gangs to place their eyes and ears in town.

It's only been 5 minutes since I entered the place and I can already feel the glances and stares coming from all directions. Some were interested, some hostile, and some skeptical. I've spotted two members of The Qin family following me. (they're literally the only two wearing suits in this town)

I pay them no mind.

You want me. Here I am.

***

30 minutes later, I'm in the central area of Chinatown.People in suits and serious clothes became more and more common. The average height of buildings on both sides starts getting higher. Neon signs( still with giant Chinese words on them) replace plastic signs at the frontier of the district. Roads expanded. Cars appeared, and at some point pedestrians starts to move sideways for cars on the asphalt road to pass.

The last time I was this deep in piao jie was ages ago. Although I've heard many things about the giant jiu lou at the heart of Chinatown, I've never been there before. Not knowing which way to go, I look back and find the two men that have been following me. Even in the midst of well-dressed Chinese, they're still too obvious.

I casually walk towards them, one tense up and frowns. The other one stands still with a poker face.

"Would you two gentlemen be so kind to point me in Chen Xiang jiu lou's direction ?"

They give each other a glance. Then the stoic one speaks.

"Turn right at the small square up ahead two more blocks and you should see it, it's hard to miss."

"Thanks a lot."

After following their direction for five minutes a giant building on a slope catches my eye.

It looks like a fortress.

Buildings and buildings, houses and houses stack on top of each other, about seven Storeys high, and five times the width of a normal store in piao jie. From the outside, it looks like the palace from the 'Tang' dynasty and the Osaka castle from Japan combined.

Wooden balconies, stone walls, kiln brick on gable roofs. High ranks in the Qin family and other powerful individuals are smoking and laughing on the balcony of the fifth floor, the lanterns hanging on the column makes half of their face visible. I can see the wrinkles form with their smiles, and the cocky expression on their faces while they enjoy the view from above.

They have total confidence that they're in control of everyone and everything here.

On the top floor, just a few inches from the rooftop, a woman stands there, lights coming out from the room behind her so I couldn't see her face. But I can feel the familiar coldness that shivers my spine, She's watching me.

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There's a giant plaque signboard on top of the front door. 'Chen Xiang jiu lou'. Three not so friendly looking men in suits are standing on the left side of the front door, and a female receptionist with a slim figure is on the right...... I approach the receptionist and she puts on the most professional smile I have ever seen as soon as she sees me.

"Evening, mister." Not bad, she didn't even try talking to me in Chinese.

"Evening, I'm supposed to meet someone here tonight." I give her the most professional smile I can muster too.

"Yes. Of course. Do you have your friend's reservation details ?"

"No, not really. She just told me to come here." The receptionist turns her head to the right in a very subtle motion. She's checking the security guards.

"Sir, may I have your name please ?"

"Lee."

"Sir, I'm sorry but I need your full name."

"You already have it."

".......Sir, I'm sorry but I don't think... You're in the right place." She frowns at my answer.

I'm losing my patience. Every single cell in me is telling me to stop wasting time here.

"Miss, I assure you, I'm just as confused as you are, how about you let me in and I'll find my friend myself ?"

"Sir, I can't just let you in and......"

"Miss ?" I've had enough.

"...Yes sir ?"

"Do they speak English?" I point my finger at the three men in suits that's been staring at me this whole time.

"A little. Sir I wouldn't recommend you to...."

"Duo xie." I leave the receptionist at a loss and walk towards the security. They look like they've been waiting for some actions this whole night. Well.

Look no further boys.

I size them up first. The one on the right has good physic, his left leg moves back half a step to prepare for any trouble, though the other two looks less experienced and not as physically strong as the first one. But since they're leaning on the wall their suit naturally falls to both sides. They pay the left side no mind but put their hand on the right side of their waist. Perfect positioning for drawing or hiding a pistol.

"Evening, fellows." I put my right hand in the inner pocket of my bomber jacket. The two in the back get off the wall and take a step closer. Stupid choice. Their former position can shoot me as soon as I tried something, but now they gave me a chance to post a threat to them. The first one doesn't move but I can tell he's ready to kill. I search through my inner pockets and what I'm looking for. A pack of cig.

I slowly take the pack out, flick the bottom and pull one out.

"Got a light ?" They look at each other for a second. Than the big one pulls out a cheat plastic lighter. Two tries before the flicker was formed. I lower my head to light up the cigarette. His hand grips the lighter so tight that his knuckles turned white.

Still on guard, very good.

" Thanks a lot." I take a small drag. Not much of a smoker nowadays, few years ago I love the pungent smell and the energy boost that comes with it. Now the inhaler does most of the work, smokes are just for social fares or ice breaking. But nonetheless, the familiar tastefeels good.

"Now. I have some business to conduct, either you take me to your boss or let me in this building." He let out a chuckle, which sounds more like a hum.

"I don't know you. Boss don't do work with strangers........"

"Yeah, that's what I thought an hour ago. Now. Please let me finish this so we can leave each other in peace."His arms folded

"What's your name ?"

"Lee."

"Lee from where ?"

"Nowhere. I'm a freelancer." He frowns at the word like his trying recall what it means.

"You're a........ merc?"I nod.

"Leave. This is not where you should come." The two behind him have their hand inside their suit now.

"Believe me I wish I could but I can't. So how about this, you tell those two to calm down and go tell someone who isn't a fucking 'ma zai' that the delivery boy you're looking for it's at your doorstep." He might not understand the full sentence, but he sure as hell understands

'ma zai'.

He takes another step forward.

"Last chance, leave."

Just when hell is about to break lose. The door opens, and a man strides out and walks directly toward us. All three man stand straight and greets him.

"The fuck is going on here ?" The man asks in Chinese. Calmly.

"Nan. This son of a dog was trying to see the boss." He responds in Chinese too.

Before I come to euforia my parents taught me both English and Chinese. Even though I seldom use the latter, I can still understand what they're saying.

Nan turned his head and look me up and down. Same as I.

He's wearing a tailored suit with black shirt(first two buttons undone)and leather shoes. His skin color looks a bit darker than the average piao jie citizen. Slicked back undercut. He has a visible scar from temple to the side of his head. Slightly higher than me about 178 cm. Average physic but I can tell by the way he walks this guy is confident in his 'problem-solving skills'. Lastly, his eyes. They burn like wild fire but are restrained by his discipline. Anger, irritation, are all locked inside of him as fuels to keep him going. He's the kind of man that can transform his wrath into sheer will.

"Who are you? "

"Lee, mercenary. Here for the job."

One step forward. He stands just a few inches away from me and looks down slightly to meet my glares. I raise my right hand and bring the cigarette up to my mouth again. After a small drag, I puff out the smoke in front of him. His eyes didn't even flinch, gray chiffon drifting between us. A few more seconds later he nods in satisfaction. And grin ear to ear like a vicious dog.

"Mr. lee. Sorry for the inconvenience, please follow me."

He leaves the three security guards and the receptionist bewildered and strides back towards the front door. As he pushes open the handle of the double door. Noises of a load of people talking loudly, chopsticks clinging to rice bowls, whisky bottles colliding with glass flagons overwhelms my senses. Nan gives me a 'after you' gesture. Still grinning and I can see blue veins on his wrist.

I look at the entrance for a second. Take a deep breath. And follow him inside.

All hope abandon, ye who enters.........